IT IS MY TIME.

Kemi lives in Ibadan, I woke up the following day to go to Ibadan to visit my friend and at least escape the “Villian” at home; I meant uncle, Barry. I packed a few clothes and took the necessary items to go with me. I was quite excited to travel. The fun on the way, buying refreshments, and seeing different sights made me glad. I love adventure and was willing to explore the city of Ibadan. It used to be the third-largest city in Africa but later became the second-largest city after Cairo in Egypt

“I was going to the second-largest city in Africa”.

I said to myself, Lo! and behold, I landed in the city. It was fun to see numerous people streaming up and down. There was a mixture of old and new buildings. Some of the old buildings were giving way to the new. In the ancient city full of life and activities, I got to my friend’s house. She was excited to see me. We exchanged greetings and I was taken to my room.

The parents came in much later in the evening because they were business people. The mother sells at “Gbagi” a very big market that is popularly known for clothing. You need assorted clothing like wrappers and laces, you visit Gbagi. The people had very large shops full of clothing. Rich women have their shops there. The father had his shop there too. They go early in the morning and come very late at night.

You hardly see them at home. It is only on Sundays they wake up with their beautiful attires to go to church. My friend used to go with her mum to the market. She helps her to sell since she was on holiday I told her, I was not interested in selling in the market, I was there to catch my fun. It is my time to enjoy my life. “I am young and beautiful, what is more, explore and catch fun O girl.”. I told myself.

I had to follow them to the market for two days. I became bored and wanted something more. My friend decided to take me out. We went to a restaurant we bought ice cream and we were enjoying ourselves, chatting and gisting like the girls that we were. When a man strolled in with his friend. They looked different as if they are new in town.

They looked very refined and fresh they looked like spoilt rich men’s children. They were about my age. They would not be more than twenty-five, they may be a little older than my friend and me. As soon as they entered they ordered assorted meals and drinks. Their accent was foreign. They were speaking like Americans.

After some time one of them came to our table and invited us to theirs’ for fellowship. “I am Rob”, introducing himself and “you are”, pointing to me to which I quickly replied “Comfort” “and this is Kemi, my friend”.

I told my friend Kemi to follow me to their table. She did of course because she was my host. We greeted the other friend, Vincent and we kept on talking.

Rob and Vincent were cousins, they were at the same University abroad studying Accounting. They had a lot in common. Both of them were born abroad. They were an American citizen. They just came back from the U.S. We ate together and talked about a lot of things ranging from families, (I meant our families) to politics, life in the U.S, and Nigerian Universities.

When we were done we excused them since it was getting late but not before Rob collected my mobile number and promised to give me a call. I was somehow excited about meeting these young men from abroad.

Rob called me as promised and we gisted a bit. He asked me out on a date, to which I quickly agreed. I believed it was my time, I must enjoy my youthfulness. I wanted to be “free in my own eyes” not knowing I was treading on dangerous water.

Over the night I had a terrible dream, I found myself playing with all sorts of wild animals and later one of them changed and wanted to devour me. I was so frightened that I woke up to reality. I discovered it was a dream. I was all sweat, it looked so real I became burdened. “What was the meaning of this dream? What message is God trying to send? Is he discouraging me from going on a date with Rob? “Many more thoughts were running through my mind. I was really scared.

Kemi noticed when she saw my face in the morning and asked because it was like I have just seen a ghost. I opened up to her and discussed everything with her. She felt I need to be careful with Rob, more so I was going on a date with him. "Please, Comfort is very careful with this boy, he is too exposed while you are just a novice”.

Kemi warned me very well until I was fed up. I had to tell her, that that I was a big girl, I could take care of myself. I told her not to worry at all and that it was just a mere dream. I put on a bold face telling myself it was an ordinary dream. I would be careful of course with Rob, the American guy.

I put on dazzling well-fitted clothing that revealed my figure-eight. It was great. I had this stunning look with my make-up. He came in to pick me up in his Toyota Camry car. I went out, he opened the car for me to enter the car, which I did cautiously. We went to an exquisite restaurant. We enjoyed ourselves with so much fun. He later took me to a boutique and bought clothing, bags, and shoes for me. I came back home quite exhausted from so much fun and excitement. He promised to come and pick me up the following day.

He came back the following day and took me to another wonderful restaurant. When we were done, he took me around Ibadan city before he took me to his house. The parent's house was in the Government Reserved Area, it was a one-story building.

The house was like a mansion, well built with a lot of rooms. It has a boys’ quarter and a chalet. He took me to the chalet. He brought out a drink, (alcoholic) which I bluntly refused. He put on light music. The atmosphere was quite romantic when he discovered that I wouldn’t take alcohol, he brought out a malt drink for the two of us. It was quite chilled. I went to the toilet to ease myself, I returned later and took my drink.

As soon as I drank my malt, I was feeling drowsy, I managed to keep awake till I finally caved in. I slept off, I woke up to discover I had been abused by the criminal, it was a well-thought-out plan.

Again, I found myself being molested. Who will hear me? It was my fault. What was I looking for in his house? He cheated on me, this boy violated my right without my consent. Again! What can I say? So the dream was quite true. I was playing with a dangerous animal. I was devoured again. I felt as if I had been stabbed by a sharp knife in the center of my heart.

Tears were rolling down my eyes. He came in, and instead of apologizing, he was just insulting me, telling me I was crying as if I was a virgin. "What! I shouted you evil beast, you slow-bellied viper, you villain, you big-headed fool! I hate you, I hate you, oh! How I hate you." I kept on declaring my hatred,until he ordered me to get out of his house.

I felt humiliated. What I ran away from, is what I came to experience more horribly. Oh! My! I screamed at him and said, “you will not go scot-free! God will judge you, you will never receive mercy, you accursed beast”. I left his house in the night. God was kind enough to allow me to get a good vehicle that took me home safely. I mean Kemi’s house

. I quickly brushed my hair and put on light make-up to look good. I never wanted my friend or my parents to know what had just happened to me.

Luckily enough, the parents were not around, so I was able to clean up properly before they came. I was quite exhausted and needed to be alone to think about my life. I felt cheated and cried terribly throughout the night. I could hardly sleep. I made up my heart to leave and go back home

. I told my friend the following morning about my decision. She felt that I was too hasty, I never hinted to her about my sudden move to go back home.” I was thinking you will stay with us for some days before going back”. I smiled and told her, it was necessary to return home. My sister would need me. She in turn told her parents who thanked me for finding out time to come and stay with them. I was taken to the park. I returned in terrible despair. As soon as I got to the house, the children, that is my sister’s children came to welcome me. I greeted them but told them I needed to be alone because I was not feeling fine.

.

They all left me to be alone. My sister and her husband were not around. I felt relieved. I hated the thought of my sister probing for me. I knew she would if she sees me in the way I entered. I was looking terrible. Thank God she was not in. I was quite relieved. I was in my room brooding over all that had happened. I blamed myself deeply. I felt like committing suicide again A suicidal thought flooded my mind. The following day, I rose quickly and went out as early as 6 am to go to the side of the river. I thought of jumping into the river. I thought of jumping into the river to end my miserable life. I felt worthless and miserable.

“Princess, do you know I was supposed to have reported these cases, but I never could bring myself to do this. I should have told my friend’s parents about the incident with Rob. I never did. I felt, I would be stigmatized and they would blame me for being careless. I had a lot of reasons why I should not report him. As I am talking to you now, I am feeling I was very wrong. Such cases should be reported to curb these evil practices. It is never good to cover up sinners. They need to be exposed to be free emotionally. It is better to say it and be free than not say anything. Look at me now, I am getting relieved. I’m feeling free and delivered from those chains of bitterness.

Princess, I’m seriously considering exposing uncle Barry and Rob for the things they did to me. They need to repent and stop this evil of assault Victims should always report their cases and should never be afraid to say it. It will curb this evil menace going on all over the world. I will soon join the campaign of saying, ‘No’ to sexual violence. Say ‘No’ to assault and molestation. I will join those on this campaign. I’ve suffered so much pain, and bitterness, that it has led me to commit more blunders because I’ve kept these things to myself. Can you imagine the pain I have caused others because of my wound? Now I’m getting these things off my chest. I’ve been chained for too long. Now I’m getting free. I believe I’m on the way to a total recovery of myself again”.

As I was saying, I was by the river wanting to end my miserable life once and for all. I attempted to do it when I heard a deep baritone voice shouting from afar, “please don’t do it”. He kept on repeating the sentence. “Please don’t do it”. I kept on hearing his voice in my subconscious mind. “Please don’t do it”. My mission was quickly aborted. Thank God for the voice from afar. I turned to see the man, but I could not see anyone.

I checked everywhere yet, I could not see anyone. I became afraid. What was happening? Why was the voice so loud and near, why did I hear the voice? Was that voice meant for me? It could be a passerby just shouting at someone. What a coincidence! Was it an angel’s voice telling me not to commit suicide? How could an angel come down for an ordinary girl like me? I am not even important to God, if I was, he wouldn’t have allowed my predicament again and again. Was it a figment of my imagination?

Whatever it was, the mission was aborted. I just couldn’t do it. The voice was pretty strong to stop me. I quickly rushed out of the place to go back to the house. Of course, I couldn’t help but think and think.

The voice continued to haunt me for a very long time. Negative feelings started to leave me. Suicidal thoughts flew out of me. Like a demon was being cast out. It was a strong voice. I turned to the radio and heard the voice of a preacher, saying :

“The voice of the Lord is over the waters;

The God of glory thunders;

The Lord is over many glasses of water

The voice of the Lord is powerful

“So, it was the voice of the Lord, I heard using whoever was passing by. The Lord was trying to stop me from doing the abominable. Suicide is not good at all. You should not take the life you did not create. It is a terrible sin. It is better to overcome all problems or challenges we face in life by trusting in God who created heaven and earth to do it. I decided never to think like that ever again. I purpose to overcome all troubles that have come my way. If there is life, they say there is hope.

“I believe it is my time to hand over my life to the one who created me” while I was listening to the radio station, I was receiving the words of the preacher and I made up my mind to end my misery by giving the miserable life to him. It is safer in His hands than in the waters. Let Him have this body, I gave my spirit, soul, and body to the Lord that day. I allowed Him to possess my body for His use.